The lecture, which is free and open to the public, will be followed by a reception in the Mellon Institute lobby at 5:30 pm.

In 1985 Chu led the research group developing "optical tweezers" that showed how to cool and then trap atoms with light. Chu's theory explains how atoms can be taken to temperatures 10 times colder than the previously predicted minimum temperature. His group also constructed the first atomic fountain and atomic fountain frequency standard that led to the current time standard used around the world.

In 1997 Chu won the Nobel Prize in Physics for his work in cooling and trapping atoms. At Stanford University, he is the Theodore and Frances Geballe Professor of Physics and Applied Physics.

The Buhl Lecture is sponsored by Carnegie Mellon's Department of Physics and is funded under the auspices of the Buhl Professorship in Theoretical Physics, which was established at Carnegie Mellon in 1961 by The Buhl Foundation. For more information, please contact Carnegie Mellon's Department of Physics at 412-268-6681.